Semester 2009B Time Distribution

Gemini North: Time Availability and Distribution

A minimum of 85% of the time will be
available for science use on Gemini North in 2009B. This amounts to 156 nights,
and includes a Gemini staff allocation and 15 nights for GNIRS Science Verification (SV)
and possibly other Observatory strategic programs.
A separate Call will be issued for GNIRS SV time. The remaining time will be
used for various observatory maintenance tasks,
GNIRS commissioning and commissioning of new CCDs for GMOS-N; any unused
engineering time will be returned to science. Note that historically around 5% of each
semester's science time is used to complete highly ranked programs from the previous two
semesters to which the ITAC granted rollover status.
The number of hours allocated to each partner in 2009B is given in the following table.

Partner

Estimated Hours Available

US

614

UK

282

Canada

156

Australia

43

Argentina

21

Brazil

22

Univ. of Hawaii (host)

159

Gemini Staff

118

Total

1415 (=141n)

Gemini South: Time Availability and Distribution

A minimum of 80% of the time will be
available for science use on Gemini South in 2009B. This amounts to 147 nights,
and includes a Gemini staff allocation, 18 nights of NICI campaign science, and
6 nights for Flamingos-2 Science Verification (SV). A separate Call will be issued for Flamingos-2 SV time.
The remaining time will be used for various observatory maintenance tasks, and
Flamingos-2 and MCAO commissioning activities.
Any unused engineering time will be returned to science.
Note that historically around 5% of each
semester's science time is used to complete highly ranked programs from the previous two
semesters to which the ITAC granted rollover status.
The number of hours allocated to each partner in 2009B is given in the following table.

Partner

Estimated Hours Available

US

551

UK

251

Canada

136

Australia

35

Argentina

17

Brazil

19

Chile
(host)

119

Gemini
Staff

104

Total

1232
(=123n)

Time Adjustments

To
maintain overall balance amongst the partnership, the values shown
above for both Gemini North and South have been
adjusted from the nominal partner shares as a result of actual time
charged through 2008B. Time trades between partners are also
included. The time allocations shown here were recommended
by the Operations Working Group in January 2009.
The number of nights is approximated by int(hours/10).